Heddle frame



HEDDLE FRAME Filed April 27, 1954 INVENTORS Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITEDSTATES zbiaszr PATENT OFFICE HEDDLE FRAME Application April 27, 1934,Serial No. 722,691

9 Claims.

My invention relates to heddle frames for looms, and it relates moreparticularly to the construction and arrangement thereof.

As is well known, the most popular form of heddle frame at present inuse comprises top and bottom rails, usually made of wood, and connectedto each other at their ends by metal straps in which the heddlesupporting rods are mounted. It is necessary that such frames berelatively light, yet sufficiently rigid and durable to withstand thestresses and shocks to which they are subjected during the operation ofthe loom, and one of the principal difiiculties encountered in theconstruction of such frames is to provide Satisfactory means forsecuring the end straps lto the ends of the top and bottom rails.

It is desirable that the construction employed be such as to enable theframes to be readily assembled in an economical manner. It is alsodesirable that the construction be such that in the event of one of therails breaking or becoming worn, the same may be easily detached and anew rail inserted, without dismantling the entire structure or requiringthat the frame be removed from the loom.

Furthermore, to be satisfactory, the construction must be such thatexpansion and shrinkage in the width of the Wooden rails, which occurfrom time to time by reason of climatic changes, will be properly takencare of without sacrificing the rigidity of the connection.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide, in a heddleframe in which the top and bottom rails are made of wood and connectedat their ends by metallic straps, improved means for connecting said endstraps to the end portions of said top and bottom rails, whereby thesame will be securely attached and likelihood of deformation at thepoint of connection will be reduced to a minimum.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connection between theend straps and the top and bottom rails of the frame which will permitthe parts to be rapidly and economically assembled.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connection between theend straps and the top and bottom rails of the frame, which will permitthe replacement of a damaged rail without dismantling the frame orremoving it from the loom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connection between theend straps and the top 55 and bottom rails of the frame which will notbe the following description, taken in connection f With theaccompanying drawing forming part l hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a heddle frame embodying the mainfeatures of my present invention; lo

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partly in section andpartly in elevation, illustrating the construction at one corner of theframe;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken approximately on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2; 15

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the rail shown in theposition assumed during the assembly of the frame;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a brace member constituting one of theelements of the invention; go

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modied form of bracemember; and

Fig. 7 is another View similar to Fig. 5, showing another modied form ofbrace member.

It will, of course, be understood that the de'- 25 scription and drawingherein contained are illustrative merely, and that various modicationsand changes may be made in the structure disclosed Without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. 30

Referring to the drawing, in the particular embodiment of my inventiontherein shown, the

heddle frame comprises top and bottom rails it), made of wood andconnected at their ends'by end members Il, made of iiat metal. The end35 members I I extend across the ends of the rails Iii, the end portionsthereof being bent over as at I2 and seated in recesses at the ends ofthe vouter edge portions of the rails, being secured to the rails atthis point by means of wood screws I3. 0

The inner corners of the rails iii are secured to the end members I I bybrace members Eli. Each of the brace members I4 is provided with ahorizontal portion I5, seated in a recess in the edge portion of therail I0, and secured thereto at this 4,5 point by means of a wood screwI6.

Each of the brace members I4 is also provided with a verticalv portionI'I, abutting against the end member I Iv and provided with an openended slotv I8. The horizontal portionl of the brace member I4 isconnected to the vertical portion l i thereof by an angular portion I9,as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing, but in lieu of this angularportion, the brace member may be shaped as shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawing, having a 55 curved connecting portion 20, or as shown in Fig. 7of the drawing, having the horizontal and vertical portions connecteddirectly to each other by a relatively sharp bend as at 2 I.

The vertical portion I'I of the brace member I4 is secured to the endmember II by means of a rivet 22. This rivet is of peculiarconformation, comprising a shank portion 23 extending through acomplemental aperture in the end member, an enlarged shouldered portion24 which is engaged by the slot I8 of the brace member I4, and afur-ther enlarged head portion 25 which retains the slotted verticalportion II of the brace member I4 on the shouldered portion 24 of saidrivet. The -end of the shank portion 23 of the rivet is hammered over inthe usual manner as at 26, to hold the rivet in place in the end memberII.

It should be noted that the riv-et 22 is positioned some distance fromthe inner corner of the rail I 0, so that the portion of the end memberI I which is reduced in cross-section, by reason of the rivet passingtherethrough is some distance from the corner of the rail, thusminimizing the likelihood of bending at this point.

The heddle supporting rods 21, upon which the heddles 28 are mounted,extend through slots in the end members II in the customary manner, andthe apertured projecting ends thereof may be engaged by the usual springhooks 29 mounted in the end members I I, although it will of course beunderstood that any other manner of mounting the heddle supporting rods,and any other means for securing the same, may be employed if desired.

1n the assembly of a heddle frame made in accordance with the presentinvention, the brace members I4 are preferably rst secured by the woodscrews I6 in the recesses at the inner corners of the rails I0,whereupon the slotted vertical portions I'I of the brace members I4 maybe caused to engage the shouldered portions of the rivets 22, as shownin Fig. 4 of the drawing. The rail l may then be swung to the properposition with respect to the end portions of the end members I I, andthe wood screws I3 then inserted to complete the assembly.

This manner of assembling the structure permits the use of automaticscrew driving machines, which cannot be used when the brace member isIixedly riveted to the end member, as is done with some heddle framesnow in use. Furthermore, by the provision of the slot I8 in the verticalportion I'I of the brace member I4, the efficiency of the Abrace memberwill not be impaired when expansion or shrinkage of the wooden rail I0occurs. A brace member constructed as hereinbefore described will befound in practice to impart considerable rigidity to the frame, andthere will be little likelihood of bending of the end members at theinner corners of the rails, such as frequently occurs in many of theheddle frames at present in use.

I claim:

1. A heddle frame comprising top and bottom rails, end members' havingtheir end portions secured to said rails, and brace members at the innercorners of the rails; each of said brace members having a horizontalportion secured to the inner edge of a rail, and a vertical portionabutting against the end member and slidably connected thereto.

2. A heddle frame comprising top and bottom rails, end members havingtheir end portions secured to said rails, and brace members at the innercorners of the rails; each of said brace members having a horizontalportion secured to the inner edge of a rail, a vertical portion abuttingagainst the end member, and an angular portion connecting saidhorizontal and vertical portions, the vertical portions of the bracemembers being slidably connected to the end members.

3. A heddle frame comprising top and bottom rails, end members havingtheir end portions.

secured to said rails, and brace members at the inner corners of therails; each of said brace members having a horizontal portion secured tothe inner edge of a rail, and a vertical portion abutting against theend member, the vertical portion of the brace member having an openended slot; and rivets mounted in the end members, each of said rivetshaving a portion engaged by the slotted vertical portion of a bracemember.

4. A heddle frame comprising top and bottom rails, end members havingtheir end portions secured to said rails, and brace members at the innercorners of the rails; each of said brace members having a horizontalportion secured to the inner edge of a rail, a vertical portion abuttingagainst the end member, and an angular portion connecting saidhorizontal and vertical portions, the vertical portion of the bracemember having an open ended slot; and rivets mounted in the end members,each of said rivets having a portion engaged by the slotted verticalportion of a brace member.

5. A heddle trame comprising top and bottom rails, end members havingtheir end portions secured to said rails, and brace members at the innercorners of the rails; each of said brace members having a horizontalportion secured to the inner edge of a rail and a vertical portionabutting against the end member, and rivets mounted in the end membersat points away from the inner corners of the rails, each of said rivetsbeing slidably engaged by the vertical portion of a brace member.

6. A heddle frame comprising wooden top and bottom rails, metallic endmembers having their end portions bent over and secured to the outeredges of the rails, and brace members at the inner corners of the rails;each of said brace members having a horizontal portion secured to theinner edge of a rail, and a vertical portion abutting against the endmember and slidably connected thereto.

7. A heddle frame comprising wooden top and bottom rails, metallic endmembers having their end portions bent over and secured to the outeredges of the rails, and brace members at the inner corners of the rails;each of said brace members having a horizontal portieri secured to theinner edge of a rail, a vertical portion abutting against the endmember, and an angular portion connecting said horizontal and Verticalportions, the vertical portions of the brace members being slidablyconnected to the end members.

8. A heddle frame comprising wooden top and bottom rails, metallic endmembers having their end portions bent over and secured to the outeredges of the rails, and brace members at the inner corners of the rails;each of said brace members having a horizontal portion secured to theinner edge of a rail, and a vertical portion abutting against the endmember, the vertical portion of the brace member having an open endedslot; and rivets mounted in the end members, each of said rivets havinga portion engaged by the slotted vertical portion of a brace member.

9. A heddle frame comprising Wooden top and. bottom rails, metallic endmembers having their end portions bent over and secured to the outeredges of the rails, and brace members at the inner corners of the rails;each of said brace members having a horizontal portion secured to theinner edge of a rail, a vertical portion abutting against the endmember, and an angular portion connecting said'horizontai and verticalportions, the vertical portion of the brace member having an open endedslot; and rivets mounted in the end members, each of said rivets havinga portion engaged by the slotted vertical portion of a brace 5 member.

JOHN JACOB KAUFMAN N.

